Trapped in the past.

I don’t know why I always hang on to this memory or even when it was. But what I am beginning to understand it shaped and reinforced who I am today

I am the oldest child of my family kinda the protective element I suppose you could say. But I was born abandoned, not by choice I am sure but circumstance. It was a different time there were different rules. She was young. In a family that could have never cared for me, at least that’s what I tell myself.

I do hope to meet my mother in the next life, along with the mother and father who raised me. It’s maudlin but it’s how I feel sometimes.

Shameless Self Promotion: Photos for Sale!!

Hi everyone, yea I know it’s been a while since I have written anything worth reading but fear not I have been busy with other endeavors to enrich the world. I started a YouTube channel for kids, I’ve named it Wild Canada for Kids and it’s a series of short videos listing ten things about a Canadian animal. I’ve had over 90,000 hits on the channel so far and my most popular video all about the Killer Whale has close to 35,000 watches so far. Not bad for a channel I started a few months ago.

I’ve covered all types of animals from the cute and cuddly to Fierce and down right weird. So if any of you know a kids in the age range of say 4 – 12 and they are interested in animals, let’s face it what kid doesn’t want to know about animals! Give my channel a look it’s free and informative. The videos are all under 5 minutes in length so most kids won’t get too bored and wander away. You can find the channel at www.youtube.com/@wildcanadaforkids .

Now on to the meat and potatoes of this post. As anyone who has followed my blog though out the years knows that I am an avid and published photographer. Since everything is going on-line for sale these days I figured why not join in and maybe make a few bucks on the side. I have been going through my portfolio to choose a few to clean up and offer for sale in a high quality manner. I haven’t decided on a price structure yet but I have seen other established photographers selling framed prints for up to $500.00. I don’t have the recognition to demand that kind of money but I would like your input on what you think I should sell my prints for. I am looking to source a reputable manufacturer to provide the highest quality paper and frames. I am just in the beginning phase of this endeavor so bare with me.

Give some of the raw photos a look and let me know what you think about the images and what you think someone would consider paying for such a print.

Hope everyone out there is warm and cozy.

Bob

St. Boniface Cathedral from the Red River.

That’s about as far as my bad knees would take me up the Nohoch Mul pyramid.

Chez Sophie sur le pont from the Base of Esplanade Louis Riel.

The kyacks head down stream under the Esplanade Louis Riel as seen from the river walk.

A Very Intense Gord Downie (photo – Robert Ogden)

St Boniface Cathedral from a distance

The Empire State Building in the Mist

Why must be woke culture always so correct?

Hi I’m back! But one thing I just don’t understand these days is this so called agenda. I really don’t understand how people could become so fragile in such a short amount of time.

I could go into a rant about how my years are better than your years. Why didn’t you have a more ferrel environment or left home in the morning drank from neighbors garden hoses without someone hovering over you 24/7.

It’s hard being a parent we do actually care, but we also understand that people are not made of glass. Young people need time to explore and grow independently or when their support system is gone they simply crumble.

Now please gentle reader understand that as humans we learn far more from our mistakes than our successes. Do I expect you to become Darwin award recipients. No, not at all.

But understand there are reasons why we are built body, brain and Soul the way we are. We need conflict and archtypes to strive to be more than we already are.

Am I saying conflict is good, no but it is necessary. People need to think critically and objectively. People need to stop being afraid of being hurt, life is a constant shit show. The sooner you learn that the better.

Voltaire said “I may not agree with what you are saying. But, I would give my life so you can say it.” Now that’s brass fucking balls there.

So why are Disney and many other studios under fire now. Well because they refuse to challenge us or yourself anymore.

Well because they work fine in the first place! You may not agree with my arguments but would you die to protect my right to say it? Think on that.

Inclusiveness is the new banner word. Fuck yea I’m on board. But write NEW and exciting story’s to reflect your truth. Don’t steal a past generations hero’s and icons and twist them to your will. Most of these characters or archetypes have lasted 50 years or more and wanna know why?

Because they work. Yes of course The Force can be female, jump on. But maybe just maybe it could also be Male? I dunno, maybe it’s an opossum.

One of the most profound things that stuck with me in University was, life is a rough Mistress…Or should I say partner? But also that we all must form our own opinions and be able to think critically and creatively and objectively. How do we do that, you may ask. Well put your phone down and have an actual conversation with someone. If it’s someone you don’t like even better!!

Remember, I am first and foremost a student of history and human nature. So how do we thrive? We talk and listen. We grow.

Vox Populi

It seems these days that people never studied their histories. As it is told time and time again those who do not remember the past are doomed to keep repeating it. It seems my readers, as many as you may be. We are again at that point.

I am not just speaking about the untold justice in Ukraine, but just the fucking unnatural lack of understanding of how we got here.

I hear people talking about stupid things like how Canada didn’t join WWII. Take a look at a book kiddo. But that is not the main point of my talk tonight. How about putting down the Cell Phone before going off ape shit about things you don’t know about.

Yes we all get upset about things. That is just natural. We are human, we think, we breathe, love, laugh and WORRY. Worry and Anxiety are awful things and that’s another part of being human.

First dates. Kissing someone. Killing a person in war. All a bundle of emotions. And that’s OK too.

But the thing I am taking issue here tonight is the uneducated spread of fear. You don’t have to be a scholar. What I am saying is more now that ever is the people have a voice.

Yes we can use that energy for Tic Tok or Insta Whatever. But honestly right now the human condition has never had so much instant information at it’s fingertips as right now.

Yes, we in the free world Choose our Directors of State. We let them set consensual boundaries in which we live.

But, we always remember the Vox Populi that the Romans held so dear and also feared.

Please try to do good my friends, whom ever is left out there. I still don’t have an editor so issues will abound. Just remember the people always have a voice be it voting, expression of freedoms or protest.

Bob

It’s time to really REALLY look at how we treat each other.

This is not going to be a long and pithy post but since I apparently have some spring in my key board.

As for typing and grammar errors bear with me my dear editor and I are not together any longer and I hate this new keyboard. So unfortunately you are stuck with me.

My message tonight is simple love each other, and don’t get me wrong we have come long ways as a people. Ice ages, massive changes in the landscape. But it all seems to boil down to one thing. This is what we don’t want coming along.

Maybe we can build a fire, sing a couple of those songs huh. With everything going on is that safe? But are we all going to screw each other over a couple of points to profit . Obviously a quote from AILENS. But it still rings true.

Humans will do what we do to survive these last few years should have taught us more than rabid oligarchs Always win because they think that money equals power. Well I have a rude Pearl Moment may be ahead.

So I will put on my Canadian battered and bashed hat . And gulp for just a minute.

You may not know this about Canada but we know all of your secrets. Why because you put it all on screen.

But that is not the point today, Well it could be if you could pick up Carson after school.

But in all honesty Canada the big brother, yea we are bigger. Canada took a big hit these last few weeks when we have our own reckoning coming when thousands of unmarked child graves have been finally found in areas that were apparently only school grounds.

I am holding back the bile in my neck when we realized what we finally uncovered. I must give full disclosure at this point I was adopted into a very caring home when I was an infant. But thousands of children were stolen from homes. Often promised a better way of life than the Dirty Indian. I am sorry if that offends but that is what it amounted to.

ARTI grew up White and I can’t change that but even in my own family I heard why did you marry a squa.

Honesty to a boy growing up that is saying is your mother a nigger. My family may contest but I heard the arguments.

So at least apparently we have come to a settlement. I watched the Canada Day festivities as always. But did you notice most of the country was dead silent.

And it should have stayed that way. A respectful remembrance to who all Canadians have lost.

Instead of fireworks the drones in the sky made a symbolic handshake to which the Crown, the Canadian Government the Roman Catholic Church always had agreed to. But never delivered. Gordon Downie offerd his hand and you have done nothing but look cute to deserve it.

Prove me wrong Sir John was a drunk but he built a railroad. Can you not bring clean water.

Respectfully Mister Prime Minister

Robert Michael Ogden